India a battleground for Hindu fascists and Muslim fundamentalists: Darga

[email protected] (CD Network | Photos by Suresh)
March 17, 2015

Mangaluru, Mar 17: This country is turning into a huge battleground for Hindu fascist forces and Muslim fundamentalists, and people are becoming victims to this. Religious fascism spread by communal forces is more dangerous than racial fascism. If this is allowed to grow, the country will become another Germany, said Kannada journalist Ramjan Darga.

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Speaking at the book release of the Kannada translation of A G Noorani’s ‘The RSS and the BJP: A Division of Labour’ by Suresh Bhat Bakrabail here on Monday, he said that the RSS was propagating a divisive concept while was directly contradictory to the belief of an ‘inclusive culture’ which was propagated by the likes of Buddha, Kabeer, Guru Nanak and others saints ages ago. There is no ‘Hindu’ culture in Bhagawat Gita, Mahabharata or Ramayana. The concept of being a ‘Hindu’ is a geographical concept which was derived from the river Sindh, and did not refer to a religion. The culture of Mussolini and Hitler is RSS culture – this is not Hindu culture, he said.

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He said that it was V D Savarkar who brought the concept of Hindutva in Hindu religion and during the time of demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, this concept was used to divide the society. “Our country has a vast heritage which opposes this ‘hate culture’. And the culture propagated by the RSS and its political wing BJP is contradictory to our heritage. It is those who do not want the age-old tradition of togetherness to exist, who are trying to break the communal harmony in the country,” he said, adding that the division was made possible since we neglected to teach our children the importance of this land and its heroes.

He also stated that innocent Muslims were being controlled by few Muslim fundamentalists in the country.

The society we are living in is one filled with turbulence. We should reflect what kind of society we are leaving behind for our next generation. Until we understand that religious fascism is dangerous, incidents of communal hatred will continue to occur, he said.

He said that the book translated by Suresh Bhat Bakrabail is an eye-opener. Those who reads the book can never become a communal person, he said.

Speaking after releasing the book, senior journalist and media advisor to the Chief Minister of Karnataka Dinesh Amin Mattu said that the biggest trait of RSS was its hypocrisy. The acts of RSS are well-strategised, which is why it places different types of communalism in front of people. Although it talks about Hindutva, it has an ulterior political motive, which is why it backs only members from the BJP, he said.

He said that the only way to end the caste system was to collectively boycott religious centres which practiced casteism and untouchability.

The programme was organised by Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, Mangaluru and Ladai Prakashana Gadag. K L Ashok, Basavaraj Sulibhavi from Ladai Prakashana and others were present on the occasion.

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News Network
December 7,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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